Meaningless to Spend Money on Educating Armenian Women: Sociologist
03.07.2012 14:57 epress.am
The 21st century requires women to be equal to men in strength and
ability, said sociologist Aharon Adibekyan, speaking in the Armenian
capital today about the 21st century Armenian woman.
Adibekyan said that his research has showen that Armenians are
`bearers of Aryan culture and men have a dominant role in our
society.'
`We were studying whether a woman's role can change after
transitioning from a totalitarian system. The role of women in our
country didn't change after independence. Though more than half of
voters are women, there was a modest number of women in the
majoritarian [single-mandate] constituencies. OnlyHranush Hakobyan had
the opportunity of winning in the elections, being an exceptional
figure, when a woman can overcome gender issues,' he said.
Money spent on women's education is an unnecessary expense, Adibekyan
continued, since a large portion of the unemployed are highly educated
women.
According to the sociologist, women are actively engaged in neither
politics nor business. He said that only 18% of owners of businesses
registered in Armenia are women - not to mention that a portion of
these women are owners in name only, since their husbands, who are
members of parliament and cannot own businesses, register their
businesses in their wives' names.
Adibekyan believes that women's lower role in society is due to the
fact that they don't value themselves and are used to answering to
men.
`When we say become a director, they have an aversion to being a
leader, to the responsibility. We have only two female ministers.
Among village mayors there are only a few women. There are relatively
more [women] In the judiciary since women accept bribes less,' he
said.
In the sociologist's opinion, women are more conservative, explaining
that 40% of Armenian men but only 30% of Armenian women place
importance on having sexual experience before marriage.
`We're not as liberal as we could've been at our level of democracy.
But if we become a European country, we will disappear faster than we
are disappearing. If we remain [an] Asiatic [country], we will remain
backward and emigration [from the country] will increase,' he said,
expressing hope that `the public will find the golden middle.'
03.07.2012 14:57 epress.am
The 21st century requires women to be equal to men in strength and
ability, said sociologist Aharon Adibekyan, speaking in the Armenian
capital today about the 21st century Armenian woman.
Adibekyan said that his research has showen that Armenians are
`bearers of Aryan culture and men have a dominant role in our
society.'
`We were studying whether a woman's role can change after
transitioning from a totalitarian system. The role of women in our
country didn't change after independence. Though more than half of
voters are women, there was a modest number of women in the
majoritarian [single-mandate] constituencies. OnlyHranush Hakobyan had
the opportunity of winning in the elections, being an exceptional
figure, when a woman can overcome gender issues,' he said.
Money spent on women's education is an unnecessary expense, Adibekyan
continued, since a large portion of the unemployed are highly educated
women.
According to the sociologist, women are actively engaged in neither
politics nor business. He said that only 18% of owners of businesses
registered in Armenia are women - not to mention that a portion of
these women are owners in name only, since their husbands, who are
members of parliament and cannot own businesses, register their
businesses in their wives' names.
Adibekyan believes that women's lower role in society is due to the
fact that they don't value themselves and are used to answering to
men.
`When we say become a director, they have an aversion to being a
leader, to the responsibility. We have only two female ministers.
Among village mayors there are only a few women. There are relatively
more [women] In the judiciary since women accept bribes less,' he
said.
In the sociologist's opinion, women are more conservative, explaining
that 40% of Armenian men but only 30% of Armenian women place
importance on having sexual experience before marriage.
`We're not as liberal as we could've been at our level of democracy.
But if we become a European country, we will disappear faster than we
are disappearing. If we remain [an] Asiatic [country], we will remain
backward and emigration [from the country] will increase,' he said,
expressing hope that `the public will find the golden middle.'